A 26-year-old Mission man is facing federal time behind bars after being indicted on a firearms charge stemming from an alleged possession incident in December 2017. Carlos Eddie Charging Elk was named in a federal indictment unsealed February 14, 2018, on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm — a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Charging Elk appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 16, 2018, entering a plea of not guilty. He was immediately remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, where he remains pending trial. No trial date has yet been scheduled in U.S. District Court.
The indictment alleges that on or about December 19, 2017, Charging Elk, a previously convicted felon, knowingly possessed a firearm. Under federal law, individuals with felony convictions are strictly prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. Violations are prosecuted aggressively by federal authorities, especially on tribal lands where jurisdiction often falls to federal courts.
The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between tribal authorities and federal prosecutors in enforcing gun laws on reservations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Nelson is leading the prosecution.
If convicted, Charging Elk faces up to 10 years in federal custody, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court may also impose restitution, though specifics have not been detailed in court filings.
The charge is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case remains active in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. Updates are expected as the court schedules further proceedings.
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- Sioux Falls Man Convicted on Three Unregistered Firearm Charges · South Dakota
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- Lydia Dowty Gets 8 Months for Firearm Possession · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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